Lymphoma Foundation Canada has its roots in two distinct, regional organizations, which were both founded in 1998. The Lymphoma Research Foundation of Canada (LRFC) was founded in Vancouver in early 1998 by Patricia Manson after she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Pat, who became the first President of the LRFC, was diagnosed in 1997 with an aggressive form of Lymphoma. After her diagnosis, she searched in vain for a Canadian organization which focused on lymphoma research and also came to realize that no Canadian lymphoma support group existed to facilitate the distribution of pertinent information to patients. Pat established the LRFC with the help of Drs. Connors and Hegele, and the legal assistance from the firm of Russell & DuMoulin. In creating the LRFC, Pat gave her husband and five children, family and many friends a larger-than-life figure to look up to; Pat was a person who rose up to help others in her time of great personal struggle against the cancer. Pat passed away a short time later on May 29, 1998. Her vision of creating the LRFC as an organization that might help others living with lymphoma has continued through Lymphoma Foundation Canada. The Canadian Lymphoma Foundation was founded in 1998 by Deborah Sterritt in Toronto. Deborah was diagnosed with an indolent form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1995. In early 1998 Deb also discovered that no group existed in Canada which could provide patients with the information they needed. With the help of Dr. Zanke, Terry Creighton and Jane Mingay, she founded the Canadian Lymphoma Foundation (CLF). The two organizations merged in 2000. Both LRFC and CLF recognized the need for a strong, national organization in order to benefit lymphoma patients throughout Canada. As a result, the two foundations joined in 2000, forming Lymphoma Foundation Canada. The goal of LFC continues to focus on lymphoma research, education and awareness in Canada. Deb continues with her involvement in the Finance Committee, Terry Creighton sits as Vice Chair, Board of Directors and Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Dr. Joseph Connors is Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and Dr. Brent Zanke sits on the Scientific Advisory Board. Since 1998, seven research fellowships have been awarded in order to facilitate and support worthy research projects and thousands of participants have benefited first-hand from timely, topical information at some of the many educational workshops we have organized.
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